The Republican’s coverage of local Fourth of July festivities included an article on international students in the UMass Civic Initiative’s summer programs. The students, participants in the Pakistani Young Leaders Program, planned to visit the town of Chesterfield’s annual July 4th parade, one of Western Massachusetts’ most archetypical celebrations.

According to Michael Hannahan, the founder and director of the Civic Initiative, which is administered through the UMass Donahue Institute, bringing students to a small town Independence Day parade has been a way to illustrate differences in how patriotism is displayed here and elsewhere.

“We hope this becomes as much a social experience as a learning experience,” Hannahan said.

As part of a program that examines public policy and democracy in both Pakistan and the U.S., students also take excursions to Boston, New York, Charlottesville, VA and Washington D.C., in addition to attending a class looking at the issues and goals governments face in providing public services to their citizens.

Read the article, “Pakistani students to feel Fourth of July spirit during Chesterfield parade,” (The Republican, 7/3/12)